There's one thing that all Leica cameras share: each is born of the desire to develop cameras that deliver the best picture quality in the world.

The Leica X1 is the direct beneficiary of 100-plus years of German engineering experience and it delivers the best picture quality in its class - in the proud Leica tradition. This elegant camera features a professional CMOS image sensor that's as large as those in high-quality SLRs. Combined with an outstanding Leica lens it captures images of unmatched brilliance. Any way you look at it, the Leica X1 is a winner: It's conveniently compact, its controls are intuitive, and it offers a full range of sophisticated automatic functions. A real Leica "Made in Germany".

The LEICA ELMARIT 24 mm f/2.8 ASPH.

Countless iconic images in the history of photography were shot with a fixed focal length of 35 mm. This focal length is considered to be a classic for reportage photography, and has lost none of its timeless charisma today. The Leica Elmarit 24 mm f/2.8 ASPH. is a true Leica lens with terrific optical performance. When seen in terms of 35-mm film format, it has precisely this legendary focal length of 35 mm.

Does anyone else share my worry that if you take away the iconic brand name and, as I understand it, matchless after sales support you....

i am not interested at leica m9, the price will be crazy ($5000+?) and i doubt the image quality is any better than 5d mark ii or sony a850/a900.

The X1 might be interesting because the form factor might be very similar to GF1, 35mm is very popular for street photography along with 50mm. But why no interchangeable!! grr.. the other complaint is the fixed lens has max aperture of f/2.8 which is a shame, because GF1 have 20 f/1.7 lens.

Anyone know how much it will cost? It might be crazy too, maybe $1500?

I like the classic design and i think people will think that it is just classic film camera and won't bother to steal it. especially after you tape the red dot logo.

12 MP (1.5x crop) sensor with fixed 24mm f/2.8 lens in a compact style body. I'm not getting the wow factor at all on the spec, and the price really doesn't help either but at least that does seem par for the red dot.

12 MP (1.5x crop) sensor with fixed 24mm f/2.8 lens in a compact style body. I'm not getting the wow factor at all on the spec, and the price really doesn't help either but at least that does seem par for the red dot.

M9 could be fun, if I won the lottery first.

New rumor about R10 - a FF DSLR.

in term of features maybe the regular DSLRs are better. They differences are in the design, material and brand.

It has been a while that I never reply anything since the announcement of Leica M9 & X1.

The M9 looks very nice but still Far to Expensive IMO however the Leica X1 looks very tempting & I really want to have those. I do know its price tag can be too pricey as close as Nikon D300 body. Okay here is some question that I would like to ask

1)Does the built quality as identical next to the M9?

2)Since its Sensor its an APS-C bigger than Sigma Foveon Sensor is it guaranteed to produce Low Noise at Higher ISO Setting?

3)Its focal length only Fixed to 24mm (35mm equi) is it Practical for general shooting?

4) And lastly I heard this X1 release on January next year I'm I right ?

2)Since its Sensor its an APS-C bigger than Sigma Foveon Sensor is it guaranteed to produce Low Noise at Higher ISO Setting?

3)Its focal length only Fixed to 24mm (35mm equi) is it Practical for general shooting?

4) And lastly I heard this X1 release on January next year I'm I right ?

Let me answer those:

You'd have to read some reviews for that one, it's not in stores yet, so I couldn't tell you. Given the price difference between them, the M9 is most likely better built.

The Leica is, from what I've read so far, not too great at higher ISOs... sadly.

A focal length of 36mm (! , that's the 35mm equiv.) is pretty useful. It's rather wide, but a good kind of wide I reckon. Just set your lens to 36mm / 1.6, shoot with it at that focal length and see what it's like.

I thought I'd read the X1 would be in stores in October... I'll get back to you on that!

Like you, I'm very interested in the X1 as a camera for daily use, taking it to university and work. The price has got to come down though, I could get a whole set of nice lenses for its MSRP...

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The X1 embodies the Leica dilemma. At $2000, give or take, it's commanding a huge premium over the price of a Sigma DP1 (Gordon's review) with its f/4 28mm equivalent lens or the Sigma DP2 (Trusted Reviews review) with its f/2.8 41mm equivalent lens. Of course the Leica's Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH (35mm equivalent) lens is likely to be very sweet and the build quality of the X1 will certainly be in a different league but that price premium can buy a lot of DLSR stuff. Just like the M9 equation, though that one is on steroids by comparison as you also have to buy the lenses.